Bases & Customs
We have 5 bases in France, St. Mandrier sur Mer, Port Pin Rolland, on the western end of the Azure Coast, two bases in Marseille (Port Corbières and Vieux Port – “Old Port”), in the heart of Provence and 2 bases in Corsica (Ajaccio and Propriano).
Americans need a VISA with a valid passport.
For European countries there is no Visa (Schengen Aera)
English, French, German or Italian: No Visa but a valid ID or passport
Money
Currency: Euro
Credit Card: Visa/MasterCard/Amex (but not accepted in the base)
ATMs: near the base at Les Sablettes, in the airport or train station.
Traveler Checks: No
Banking Hours: 9.00 AM to 12.00 AM – 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Climate
Climate: The Mediterranean can be divided in two large zones. West of Toulon, northwest winds dominate throughout the year. The “Tramontane“ blows from the Pyrenees to Sète, and “the Mistral” blows down from Vallée du Rhône and may even reach as far as Corsica and Sardinia. Summer breezes that rarely exceed 15 to 20 knots from the south and southeast are most common during summer. The Mistral is responsible for the exceptionally sunny conditions in the region. East of Toulon, the Mistral’s impact is moderate. South and southeast breezes off the sea and rarely more than 15 come up about noon, and then calms down in the evening.
Sea and Tides: A strong swell from the south, southwest builds west of Toulon, but is considerably weaker east of Toulon. Water temperatures in the summer are perfect for water sports of all kinds. Tides are less than 30 cm.
Winds: May to September generally light on East side and West side. Strong North West (Mistral – 2 or 3 days).
Provisions & Beverages
Contact us about ordering food/provisions from the local SPAR market out of Corsica.
Clothing & Luggage
As space is limited on boats (and airplanes!) please pack light and use easily storable duffel bags. Casual wear is appropriate everywhere in France. Be sure to bring a jacket/sweater/sweatshirt or rain slicker, for the occasional cool evening or windy weather. Good boat shoes with non-slip soles are a must.
Marina Facilities
The Marinas facilities include showers/toilets, re-fuelling dock, water, restaurant and bar.
Boarding / Departure
Your yacht will be ready at 1800 hrs for boarding. Please be aware that the yacht and chart briefings will be arranged on your arrival. At the end of your charter your yacht will need to be vacated by 0900 hrs so we recommend that you return to the base the day before.
Fuel & Water
Upon boarding your charter boat will have a full tank of diesel fuel and water. We recommend that you purchase drinking water and use the water onboard for bathing. You can generally purchase more water at marinas, but they do charge you by the gallon, so use water sparingly. Please return your charter boat full of fuel and water.
